Why Bain?
During the recruiting process I had numerous opportunities to
interact with Bainees. As one would expect, they all spoke highly
of the firm and stressed how great it is to work at Bain (which of
course was all true!). One thing that impressed me was how they
interacted with each other. They knew each other really well, even
teasing each other at times and, most importantly, they enjoyed
each other's company. This camaraderie is the main reason why I
joined Bain. Having the opportunity to be surrounded by and
mentored by smart, dedicated, and fun individuals is what make this
job so rewarding. My fellow Bainees are more than just the people
that I work with; they are also my friends.
My passion at Bain and outside of the
office?
I am intrigued by the inner workings of different industries and
how business leaders make decisions when a complex problem arises.
Bain has a generalist approach where each consultant works in a
wide variety of industries, each of which is unique in its own way.
Through my work with Bain I have the opportunity to see everything
from an insider's view. The cases we work on are often complex and
involve multiple stakeholders. Being able to look at a problem from
the perspective of the client's senior leadership team is unique
for a recent university graduate and leads to unparalleled learning
opportunities.
My favorite (recent) case
My first case at Bain was a six month engagement with a local
professional services firm. Our mandate was to assist the client in
developing a five-year strategic plan. It was the first time I
experienced what it was truly like to work at Bain. The manager and
the other more experienced consultants on the case played a crucial
role in my professional development. As I became comfortable in
what I was doing, they gave me more responsibilities and pushed me
to the next level. More importantly, I realized that the client was
making decision based on the analysis that I worked on! Even though
I am new at Bain, my work has already had immense value.
On top of that, I had the opportunity to travel with my Senior
Associate Consultant across Canada to visit the client's offices
for two weeks. I was in Ottawa on the same day that President Obama
was there. That morning I was having breakfast at my hotel and
realized Peter Mansbridge, the CBC news anchor, was sitting at the
table next to me! I got his autograph on my hotel bill and shook
his hand. Few hours later, Peter Mansbridge was interviewing
President Obama. That was a highlight of my business trip!
A final thought
I know most of you are more conscious about the case interview.
There is one simple but universal equation you should keep in mind:
Profit = Revenue - Cost. Structure the problem using this equation
and follow your logic! If there are things that you do not
understand, ask your interviewer.
Finally, enjoy the recruiting process. Don't forget, this is also
an opportunity for you to get to know us! Come out to the
information session and talk to a Bainee or two afterwards. Ask us
questions and we will do our best to answer them. Good luck!
